Revit Families: What They Are and How to Use Them
If you are a Revit user, you have probably heard of the term "Revit family". But what exactly is a Revit family and how can you use it to improve your building design process? In this article, we will explain what Revit families are, why they are important, how to create and use them, and what benefits they offer.
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Introduction
Revit is a powerful software that allows you to create and manage building models using the concept of Building Information Modeling (BIM). BIM is a process that involves creating a digital representation of a building that contains not only its geometry, but also its information, such as materials, properties, and relationships.
One of the key features of Revit is that it allows you to create and use different types of elements that are part of a family. A family is a group of elements that share a common set of properties and a related graphical representation. For example, a door family can contain different types of doors, such as single-flush, double-flush, sliding, etc. Each type can have different parameters, such as width, height, material, etc.
By using families, you can create more accurate and consistent models, as well as easily modify and update them. Families also enable you to reuse existing elements in your projects or import them from external sources.
What are Revit families?
A Revit family is a collection of files that work together to create a specific type of object in Revit. Families can be created in Revit and saved for later use in other projects, making it easier and faster to add standard elements to a design.
Revit families can be system families, such as walls, doors, and views, or loadable families, such as furniture, texts, and dimensions. System families are built-in elements that are created within the project environment. Loadable families are user-created or pre-built elements that are loaded into projects as needed. They can also be modified or created in the Revit Family Editor.
Revit families are Building Information Modelling (BIM) templates and 3D models of various objects that can be downloaded from external sources or created in Revit. Revit families allow users to add both standard and custom elements to their building models and to control and manage their design changes more efficiently.
Why are Revit families important?
Revit families are essential for creating and managing building models in Revit. They offer several advantages, such as:
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They allow you to create parametric models that can adapt to different project conditions and requirements.
They enable you to automate the updating of model information whenever you make changes to the family parameters or instances.
They facilitate collaboration among project team members by allowing multiple users to work on the same model using different family types and instances.
They provide consistency and accuracy in your design documentation by generating drawings from the model data.
They enhance your design creativity and productivity by giving you access to a wide range of pre-made or custom-made elements for your projects.
Types of Revit families
There are different types of Revit families that you can use in your projects. The main ones are:
System families
System families are built-in elements that are created within the project environment, such as walls, floors, roofs, ceilings, stairs, etc. System families are defined by system types, which are predefined sets of parameters and properties that control the appearance and behavior of the elements. You can modify the system types by changing their values or creating new ones. However, you cannot create new system families or edit them in the Family Editor.
Loadable families
Loadable families are user-created or pre-built elements that are loaded into projects as needed, such as furniture, fixtures, equipment, annotations, etc. Loadable families are defined by family types, which are custom sets of parameters and properties that control the appearance and behavior of the elements. You can create new loadable families or edit existing ones in the Family Editor.
Loadable families can be further classified into standard and nested families. Standard families are independent elements that can be placed in projects directly. Nested families are elements that are embedded within other families to create more complex or flexible elements. For example, a window family can contain a nested family of a window frame.
In-place families
In-place families are custom elements that are created within the project environment for a specific use or location, such as a curved wall or a sculpture. In-place families are similar to loadable families in terms of parameters and properties, but they cannot be reused in other projects or loaded into the Family Editor.
How to create Revit families
Creating Revit families is a process that involves four main steps: choosing a family template, drawing the geometry, adding parameters and constraints, and testing and loading the family. Here is a brief overview of each step:
Choose a family template
The first step is to select a family template that matches the type and category of the element you want to create. A family template is a file that contains predefined settings and information for a specific kind of family, such as reference planes, dimensions, parameters, materials, etc. You can choose from the default templates provided by Revit or create your own custom templates.
Draw the geometry
The second step is to draw the geometry of the element using the tools and commands available in the Family Editor. You can use different types of geometry, such as extrusions, blends, sweeps, revolves, voids, etc., to create solid or cutout forms. You can also use imported geometry from other software or sources.
Add parameters and constraints
The third step is to add parameters and constraints to the element to control its appearance and behavior. Parameters are variables that store values for different aspects of the element, such as dimensions, materials, visibility, etc. Constraints are rules that define the relationships between different parts of the element or between the element and its host or environment.
You can use different types of parameters and constraints, such as type parameters, instance parameters, global parameters, reference planes, dimensions, alignment locks, formulas, etc., to create parametric models that can adapt to different project conditions and requirements.
Test and load the family
The fourth step is to test and load the family into a project to check its functionality and appearance. You can use different tools and commands in the Family Editor to test the family behavior under different scenarios, such as changing parameter values, applying materials, creating types and instances, etc. You can also use preview windows to see how the family looks in different views.
Once you are satisfied with the family design, you can load it into a project by using the Load into Project command or by saving it as an external file for later use or sharing.
How to use Revit families
Using Revit families is a process that involves three main steps: loading families from the library or external sources, placing families in the project, and modifying family types and instances. Here is a brief overview of each step:
Load families from the library or external sources
The first step is to load the families that you want to use in your project from the library or external sources. The library is a collection of pre-made families that are provided by Revit or by third-party vendors. You can access the library by using the Load Family command or by browsing the folders in the Project Browser. You can also search for specific families by using keywords or filters.
External sources are files that contain user-created or downloaded families that are stored outside the project. You can load external families by using the Load Family command or by dragging and dropping them into the project. You can also use the Insert tab to import families from other software or sources, such as AutoCAD, SketchUp, etc.
Place families in the project
The second step is to place the families that you have loaded in your project in the desired locations and orientations. You can place families by using different tools and commands, such as Place Component, Place on Face, Place on Work Plane, etc. You can also use snaps, grids, guides, and dimensions to align and position the families accurately.
When you place a family in your project, you create an instance of that family. An instance is a specific occurrence of a family that has its own properties and values. For example, if you place a door family in your project, you create a door instance that has its own width, height, material, etc.
Modify family types and instances
The third step is to modify the family types and instances that you have placed in your project to suit your design needs and preferences. You can modify family types and instances by changing their parameters and properties, such as dimensions, materials, visibility, etc. You can also use different tools and commands to edit their geometry, such as Move, Rotate, Scale, Mirror, Array, etc.
You can modify family types and instances by using the Properties palette or the Type Properties dialog box. The Properties palette shows the properties of the selected instance or type. The Type Properties dialog box shows the properties of all the types within a family. You can create new types or edit existing ones by using the Duplicate or Edit buttons.
Benefits of Revit families
Using Revit families can bring many benefits to your building design process. Some of the main ones are:
Parametric modeling
Parametric modeling is a technique that allows you to create models that can change automatically according to predefined rules and relationships. By using Revit families, you can create parametric models that can adapt to different project conditions and requirements without having to redraw or rework them manually.
For example, if you create a window family that has parameters for width, height, sill height, etc., you can change these values for different types or instances of the window without affecting its geometry or functionality. You can also use formulas or constraints to link these parameters to other elements or variables in your project.
Automation
Automation is a process that allows you to perform tasks faster and more efficiently by using software or machines. By using Revit families, you can automate many aspects of your building design process, such as updating model information, generating drawings, calculating quantities, etc.
For example, if you create a door schedule that lists all the doors in your project along with their parameters and properties, you can automatically update the schedule whenever you add, delete, or modify a door in your project. You can also use Revit families to generate drawings from the model data, such as floor plans, elevations, sections, details, etc. You can also use Revit families to calculate quantities and costs of materials, components, and systems in your project.
Collaboration
Collaboration is a process that involves working with others to achieve a common goal or outcome. By using Revit families, you can facilitate collaboration among project team members by allowing multiple users to work on the same model using different family types and instances.
For example, if you are working on a residential project with other architects, engineers, and contractors, you can use Revit families to create and share different types and instances of elements, such as walls, doors, windows, furniture, etc. You can also use Revit families to coordinate and communicate design changes and issues among team members by using tools such as worksets, worksharing, comments, etc.
Conclusion
Revit families are one of the most powerful and useful features of Revit that can help you create and manage building models more efficiently and effectively. By using Revit families, you can create parametric models that can adapt to different project conditions and requirements, automate the updating of model information and documentation, and collaborate with other project team members more easily.
If you want to learn more about Revit families and how to use them in your projects, you can check out some of the online resources available on the internet. You can also download free Revit families from various websites or create your own custom families in the Family Editor.
FAQs
Here are some of the frequently asked questions about Revit families:
Q: How do I download free Revit families?
A: There are many websites that offer free Revit families for download. Some of the popular ones are:
[RevitCity]: A community website that provides free Revit families, objects, and resources for users.
[BIMobject]: A platform that provides free Revit families and BIM content from manufacturers and suppliers.
[NBS National BIM Library]: A library that provides free Revit families and BIM objects that comply with industry standards and regulations.
[CADdetails]: A website that provides free Revit families and CAD drawings from manufacturers and designers.
Q: How do I create a custom family in Revit?
A: To create a custom family in Revit, you need to follow these steps:
Select a family template that matches the type and category of the element you want to create.
Draw the geometry of the element using the tools and commands available in the Family Editor.
Add parameters and constraints to the element to control its appearance and behavior.
Test and load the family into a project to check its functionality and appearance.
Q: How do I edit an existing family in Revit?
A: To edit an existing family in Revit, you need to follow these steps:
Select the family that you want to edit in the Project Browser or in the project environment.
Right-click on the family and choose Edit Family from the context menu.
Make the changes that you want to the family in the Family Editor.
Save and load the family back into the project or into another file.
Q: How do I delete a family in Revit?
A: To delete a family in Revit, you need to follow these steps:
Select the family that you want to delete in the Project Browser or in the project environment.
Press the Delete key on your keyboard or click on the Delete button on the ribbon.
If there are any instances of the family in your project, you will be prompted to confirm whether you want to delete them as well or keep them as orphaned elements.
Q: How do I share a family in Revit?
A: To share a family in Revit, you need to follow these steps:
Select the family that you want to share in the Project Browser or in the project environment.
Right-click on the family and choose Save As from the context menu.
Choose a location and a file name for your family file (.rfa).
Send the family file to the person or platform that you want to share it with, such as an email, a cloud service, a website, etc.
I hope this article has helped you understand what Revit families are and how to use them in your projects. If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to leave a comment below. Thank you for reading! 44f88ac181
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